PaddlingLight

A forgotten hydro scheme in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters and the scars it left behind. One paddler's journey to discover what happened and who did it, and photograph the damage as it sits 100 years later.

In the middle of October, I found that Hilltop Packs offered a humorous Halloween-inspired stake bag (Vampire Killing Kit), and recently I saw that they offered a Dyneema wallet with an Aliens vs. Monsters theme. I love a company that offers funny outdoor products such as these. Plus, it weighs only 0.3 ounces, which is less than the wallet that I’ve been using for canoe tripping. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot more organizing of my gear in my pack. I’ve been slightly annoyed that my cards and cash... Читать дальше...

Agency reveals it’s still “reviewing” implementation ten months after law took effect, despite telling content creator filming was prohibited When Adam Van Tassell planned a solo canoe trip into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) this fall, he thought the new EXPLORE Act had finally cleared the way for small-scale creators like him to film without a permit. Van Tassell runs the YouTube channel Crazy Good Fishing, where he shares his videos with 1,300 subscribers. Instead, a Superior... Читать дальше...

Starting this Friday, November 14th, there’s an online Landscape Photography Summit that I’m part of. I’ll be sharing my Canoe and Kayak Photography Tips at the 2025 Landscape Photography Summit, a free two-week online event featuring a new speaker each day. I attended one earlier this year and watched every session. It was an excellent experience and full of ideas worth revisiting. I’m not 100% certain on which day that my presentation will air, but you’ll get notice if you sign up for the summit. Читать дальше...

In early November 2025, several people were f’ing around on a breakwater during a gales warning on Lake Superior, and they were about to find out. Waves ranged from 10 to 12 feet, and they were breaking over the breakwater. A large enough wave hit and washed one of the group into Lake Superior. The video below shows the wave and the woman getting washed into the big lake. Water temps were around 50°F, which is very cold. Luckily, she survived. While I’ve written about cold water before, this was a good reminder to write about it again. Читать дальше...

Learning how to stay warm in your sleeping bag can transform your paddling trips, especially those taken in the shoulder seasons. I’ve spent many nights waking up shivering at 3am with my teeth chattering so hard that I thought I’d crack a molar and many more in that half-sleep state knowing that I was too cold but already wearing every piece of clothing I brought. Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks that changed everything. Now my nights are comfortable, and yours can be too. Understanding... Читать дальше...

While I never thought that I’d be reviewing a thermometer on PaddlingLight, last time I ordered from Garage Grown Gear, I decided to pick one up. I got the ThermoWorks ThermoDrop Thermometer. It’s a simple zipper-pull thermometer. Why? I decided that I wanted to figure out exactly how my sleeping bags were working for me in different temperatures, so that I could more accurately decide which one to bring. What is the ThermoDrop Thermometer? The ThermoDrop is a small thermometer designed for a zipper. Читать дальше...

I’ve been looking for a new stake bag to replace my old one when I came across a spooky and fun bag from Hilltop packs. It’s the Vampire Killing Kit Tent Stake Bag. I’ve used Hilltop bags in the past and love their bear bag and rock throw kits, so I knew that I’d be getting good stuff. The tent stake bag comes in several prints, including the Vampire Killing Kit, Groundhog, Steak Stake, and Don’t Lose Me varieties. I laughed out loud at each one, but the Vampire one really struck me in the heart. Читать дальше...

Daily, it seems that there’s a new attack on America’s public lands. This is occurring even though over 74% of Americans support public lands, the public lands are seeing record visitation showing a strong desire of the American people to experience what the lands have to offer, and a $1.2 trillion outdoor economy that supports over five million jobs. The anti-public land politicians continue to try and chip away at protections and sell off our lands. Republican Senator Mike Lee (Utah), the guy... Читать дальше...

Earlier this year, I had purchased a sleeping bag even though I wasn’t planning on getting a new bag. That purchase didn’t work out, and after a multi-month hassle I got a refunded. With the refund and a bit of extra cash, I picked up a Western Mountaineering FlyLite sleeping bag as a replacement. My idea about picking up this bag was that I could get a bag that was slightly lighter than my old quilt and just as warm but with less hassle. I also wanted a new sleeping bag for the summer and the shoulder sessions near summer. Читать дальше...